Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-22

| burst forth, taking up the letter again:
He knew every sentence it contained
by heart. but that apparently made
no difference. "My shy, sweet lit
tie darling / knew she understood
me she gave mo little hope
that day. To think my dreams
have come true at last lts too
good 10 he true To think she's ac-
tually coming out TO me 10 be my
very own that I've only to wait. i
can't realize il its too much happi-
ness. My dear little Lucy! My own
little Lucyl NO damp anywhere in
the wallis" lie added, an oddly-per-
tuibed look-at least for an accepted
loyer-crosGng his face. 90 know
what unpnncipled wretches they are |
have suffered so much from the whole
of thcm-especially plumbers 1t
can't be a dream (; she did really write
all that I" He opened the pink note
again and sat down at table, propplng
his bead on his hands.
"Mr. Puddicombc ? Oh, oil right {!
Yes" said Mr. Westbroak hastily, as
his meditations were interrupted by
message. "Of course he added
somewhat bitterly, as he was left alone
again. "Sure to be Puddicombe just
because I've been keeping ont of his
way ] know he's the only soul | can
sneak TO. and I'm afraid TO face him. IL
/ had had q sister but no, couldn't
have shown it to her. My dear little
Lucy My shy little darling There
must be something amiss with my
brain, / think. / hope it's not over
work I've heard of such cases. I'll
ask puddicombe !" said the young
man, clapping his hat on his head with
something very like an air of despera-
ton. off my brain is failing me, at
least I'll know it. I'll show him the
letter"
"Westbrook, " said voice solemnly,
half an hour later it was the voice OF
his patient-Mr. Puddicome was an
elderly gentleman of stout and rubi-
cund aspect, and he had been cycling
his medical attendant with curiosity for
some minutes" have something
to tell me. / have seen for the last
quarter of an hour that you have some
thing to tell me, and you don't like to
do it,"
"Something to tell you !" repeated
Mr.. Westbrook, with a guilty start.
He had been avoiding personalities in
the most cowardly manner. and he had
no idea that his unquiet had been di-
vined. "Well, you are right (; | should
like to tell you something. But you'll
let it be in the strictest confidence !;
| couldn't ask even Fairfax"
"John--I call You John, you know,
sometimes; it was your fathers name,
and we were friends, said Mr.. Puddi-
combe impressively, "you are in trou-
Bile of some kind. You had better
trust me. Tell me all everything
about it.
"In trouble? Oh, no not at all !
The very opposite | am the happlest
man in the world. really should like
you to know it, Mr.. Puddlcombe and
she's coming out to me"
"In-deed !" returned his interro-
gator blankly he had taken a great
interest in the young man, and the
news wos certainly sudden. "And
who's the lady, The sweetest crea-
ture in the world, of course"
just what she is-exactly what she
is. When / left England l left, as you
say, the sweetest girl i'll the world be-
hind. / hadn't ventured to speak to
her while my prospects were so poor :;
but we understood one another, think.
| must tell you that she lived with an
aunt, who quite approved of what was
going on indeed, it was this aunt,
Miss Morton-an awfully kind old lady.
though a little cranky about cats and
parrots-who told me that if | wrote,
and Lucy said yes, she was quite ready
to consent that Lucy should come out
TO me. Mr.. Puddicombe. :" calculated
the lover in sudden fit Of ecstacy,
Selling his elderly friends hand in a
cordial-too cordial-grip 81 have
written; | have had the answer it's
the best news in the world.
"She has said yes to you; she S
coming out to you; and what's the
trouble then ?" asked the patient a
trihe lees alphabetically, nursing his
injured hand.
Its the letter it's that that puz-
zles me. Either my brains going or
Lucy's strangely-changed. ] can't
understand it, said John Westbrook,
crimsoning from throat to brow. Il
left dear shy girl, almost a child in
some of her ways-and it seems to me
incomprehensible I'll read it to you
that is, some Of it, he added, coloring
again guilty; "and for Heavens sake
tell me the truth about my brain |
know you will. SometimesI think my
heads not right"
"'My dear darling Precious he
did not read that aloud. Sweet Lucy
it would be Dissertation to disclose
such innocent affection. 81 have
been looking for the declaration You
limited at every day since you left, and
(shall / own it, thought it very long III
coming; but | am not going to re-
pIoach you'll couldn't be 50 cruel.
No. my dearest John, let me rather
assure YOU fondly that reciprocste
every ardent expression of affection
contained in your sweet letter. Oh
course l will come out to you; | don't
approve at all of long engagements.
When young people understand each
other always think the sooner they
are settled the better" He passed
over that. 90 You were my choice
= from the first, my own Poppet-'" He
laid the letter down, took out his hand
kerchief to wipe his forehead, and
gazed blankly at the twinkling eyes OPP
posite.
Don't like to read it to me, after
} all. What's it all about? Pets and
poppets, of course"
"Poppets!" repeated Mr.. West
brook, with n CLEAN OF extreme Joy.
"Do you consider-do you think, Mr..
: Puddicombe-that 'poppet is {
8 usual-term-in love letter ,"
"Why, of course, of course, my
dear boy; any amount of them. BuI
leave the poppets ont If you want to
| am bachelor. and they mightn't
edify me. "
al will not try to hide from you
darling, that have had other admirers
but l bring to you virgin Heart
About the house, oh, here it is
said John feebly-'It is such worry
to me, John dear, that / cannot be or
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